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Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event which aims to raise awareness and promote open conversations about mental health.  In this Top picks, we’ve pulled together resources, blogs and reports from the hub that focus on improving patient safety across different aspects of mental health services and also supporting staff with their own mental health and wellbeing. 1 Restraint Reduction Network: Supporting people with lived experience As all forms of restrictive practice can result in harm, it is important that people are able to identify restrictive practices and challenge their inappropriate use. The Restraint Reduction Network have a range of resources that people with lived experience, parents and carers may find helpful. The resources are designed to support people to understand what restrictive practices are, when and why they might be used, people’s rights, and how to identify and challenge unacceptable and unethical practices. 2 Harry’s story: Acute Behavioural Disturbance In December 2022, Harry Vass died after experiencing Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) and a complex disturbance in normal physiology. Harry’s death was found to be avoidable as carers were not fully aware of this condition associated with acute psychosis. In this blog, Harry’s mother Julie describes the barriers they faced in getting the right support and care for Harry before he died and highlights the need for healthcare staff to have a greater awareness of ABD and the associated risks of a medical emergency. You can also read a second blog by Julie, where she explains more about Acute Behavioural Disturbance and the changes she believes are needed to make sure patients like Harry are cared for appropriately. 3 Life Beyond the Cubicle: eLearning to support working well with families during mental health crises A set of eLearning modules designed to educate and update clinicians on the importance of involving families wherever possible during mental health crises to improve patient care, avoid harm and reduce deaths. They were developed as a partnership between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Making Families Count, with funding from NHS England South East Region (HEE legacy funds). The resources have been co-produced by people with lived experience as patients, family carers and clinicians, supported by an Advisory Group drawn from a wide range of expertise, tested in eleven NHS Trusts and independently evaluated. 4 Mental health crises: how to improve care In May 2024, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Evidence held a webinar on care for adults in mental health crisis. The webinar shared research findings on what works in community crisis care, how acute day units compare to crisis resolution teams and whether peer-supported self-management can reduce acute readmissions. This Collection summarises the 3 research projects presented at the webinar. It includes video clips from the speakers and incorporates quotes from the day. The information will be useful for anyone involved in commissioning or delivering mental health crisis services. 5 Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence This new guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) covers assessment, management and preventing recurrence for children, young people and adults who have self-harmed. It includes those with a mental health problem, neurodevelopmental disorder or learning disability and applies to all sectors that work with people who have self-harmed. The guideline sets out some important principles for care and treatment. For example, it states that self-harming patients treated in primary care must receive regular follow-up appointments, regular reviews of self-harm behaviour and a regular medicines review. 6 Hope Virgo: What needs to happen to stop people with eating disorders being failed by the healthcare system? In this blog, Hope Virgo, author and Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eating Disorders, examines the crisis that continues in eating disorder services in the UK and the devastating impact this is having on patients and their families. She highlights how failures in services lead to avoidable deaths. Hope shares the key recommendations from a new report by the APPG and calls for adequate funding and attention to ensure people with eating disorders receive the help they need to recover. 7 Rethinking doctors’ mental health and the impact on patient safety: A blog by Ehi Iden This blog by Ehi Iden, hub topic lead for Occupational Health and Safety, reflects on the increasing workload and pressure healthcare professionals face, the impact this has on patient safety and why we need to start 're-humanising' the workplace. He highlights that, “It takes a safe healthcare worker to deliver safe healthcare to patients.” 8 Zero Suicide Alliance training The Zero Suicide Alliance is a collaboration of NHS trusts, charities, businesses and individuals who are committed to suicide prevention in the UK and beyond. Their website offers free online training courses to teach people the skills and confidence to have potentially life-saving conversations with someone they’re worried about. They offer short online modules covering general suicide awareness, social isolation and suicide in veterans and university students. 9 How can our team move past a traumatic event? After an extreme traumatic event there are things that you can do to help yourself, and your colleagues, to move on. Fiona Day, medical and public health leadership coach and chartered coaching psychologist, Stacey Killick, consultant paediatrician at Glan Clwyd Hospital, and Lucy Easthope, professor in practice at Durham University’s Institute of Hazard, Risk, and Resilience and adviser on disaster recovery give their tips in this BMJ article. 10 Blog: Shifting the dial on mental health support for young black men In this blog for NHS Confederation, Kadra Abdinasir talks about how mental health services have failed to engage with young black men, and describes how services need to change to overcome the issue. She argues that delivering effective mental health support for young black men requires a move away from a crisis-driven response, to investment in system-driven, community-based projects. Kadra looks at learning from Shifting the Dial, a three-year programme recently piloted in Birmingham as a response to the growing and unmet needs of young black men aged 16 to 25. A recent report on the project found that most young men involved in Shifting the Dial reported good outcomes related to their wellbeing, confidence, sense of belonging and understanding of mental health. 11 Vicarious trauma: The invisible epidemic In healthcare, an insidious epidemic lurks beneath the surface, affecting the very individuals tasked with providing care: vicarious trauma by empathy. Despite its profound impact, this phenomenon remains largely unrecognised and under-discussed within the sector. As leaders, it is imperative that we shed light on this invisible trauma and acknowledge it as one of the greatest challenges facing our industry, as Margarida Pacheco explains in this blog. 12 Beyond stereotypes: A lived experience guide to navigating support for disordered eating Disordered eating can affect anyone, but it can be confusing to understand and recognise it in our own personal experiences. This guide, published by East London NHS Foundation Trust, is a snapshot of how adults in East London have navigated those experiences of uncertainty while seeking support for disordered eating. For many of the contributors, preconceptions about what an eating disorder is (or isn’t) have previously acted as a barrier to seeking or receiving support. It also contains advice on how to seek support for disordered eating. 13 “The alarming rate of suicide among healthcare workers should be a wake-up call in the urgent need to support them” Frontline19 was established at the start of the Covid pandemic as an urgent response to support frontline workers who were under extreme pressure and experiencing significant mental health challenges. Psychotherapist Claire Goodwin-Fee is the founder and CEO of Frontline19. In this blog, Claire explains how systemic pressures and stigma around mental health are continuing to leave healthcare staff extremely vulnerable. 14 Blog: Why harmful gender stereotypes surrounding men’s approaches towards their feelings need challenging This blog explores why men are reluctant to seek support when they are struggling with their mental health and why the suicide rate is so high. It looks at initiatives that exist to encourage men to seek help and highlights what more could be done to support mens’ mental health. 15 Learning how to protect the health system by protecting the caregivers This commentary in JAMA Network Open looks at the increasingly recognised problem of burnout among US healthcare professionals. General Social Survey data suggest that almost one-half of US health care workers experienced symptoms of burnout often or very often in 2022, up from less than one-third in 2018. The article explores research that demonstrates the extent of the issue and highlights studies looking at ways to reduce burnout. The authors conclude that systemic change will be required to tackle the issue. 16 Time for a rebalance: psychological and emotional well-being in the healthcare workforce as the foundation for patient safety In this editorial for BMJ Quality and Safety, Kate Kirk explains why staff well-being is the foundation to improving patient safety. 17 Top tips and key actions for successful collaborative partnership working across mental health services These top tips and key actions have been co-developed to support effective collaborative partnership working in the planning and delivery of community mental health services. They recognise that every heath and care system will experience challenges in relation to partnership working given the statutory and cultural differences of organisations working across the mental health pathways and that there will be different arrangements to frame local partnership working, including for example a Section 75 agreement. 18 Balancing care: The psychological impact of ensuring patient safety In this blog, Leah Bowden, a patient safety specialist, reflects on the impact her job has on her mental health and family life. She discusses why there needs to be specialised clinical supervision for staff involved in reviewing patient safety incidents and how organisations need to come together to identify ways we can support our patient safety teams. Have your say Do you have any stories, insights or resources related to mental health? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register for free here first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights.

At Patient Safety Learning we believe that sharing insights and learning is vital to improving outcomes and reducing harm. That’s why we created the hub; providing a space for people to come together and share their experiences, resources and good practice examples. We have collated 12 resources relating to men's health, including information about male cancers, men's mental health, how to engage men earlier and insights around the impact of traditional ideas of masculinity on patient safety. *Trigger warning: some of the content below focuses on suicide. 1 Men's Health Strategy for England: call for evidence This call for evidence will inform the development of a Men’s Health Strategy for England. It seeks the views of the public, as well as health and social care professionals, academics, employers and stakeholder organisations. It's particularly interested in the lived experience of all those directly affected by men’s health issues. 2 Men’s health: The lives of men in our communities Men in England are facing “a silent health crisis”, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a report by the Local Government Association. They are urging the Government to implement a men's health strategy similar to the women's health strategy of 2022. It wants men’s health to be recognised as “a national concern”. 3 Overcoming the barriers to engaging with prostate cancer Orchid is the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. In this interview, we speak to Ali Orhan, Chief Executive and Director of their Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project. Ali tells us how they are working alongside a network of volunteer community champions to improve awareness, support better outcomes and reduce health inequalities. 4 Prostate Cancer UK: risk checker Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms. Use this risk checker to find out what you should do. 5 Samaritans Handbook: Engaging men earlier: a guide to service design This handbook from the Samaritans provides a set of principles upon which wellbeing initiatives for men should be based, drawn from what men have said is important to them. By following these principles, wellbeing initiatives are more likely to be effective for, and appeal to, men going through tough times before reaching crisis point. 6 Shifting the dial on mental health support for young black men In this blog, Kadra Abdinasir talks about how mental health services have failed to engage with young black men, and describes how services need to change to overcome the issue. She argues that delivering effective mental health support for young black men requires a move away from a crisis-driven response, to investment in system-driven, community-based projects. Kadra looks at learning from Shifting the Dial, a three-year programme recently piloted in Birmingham as a response to the growing and unmet needs of young black men aged 16 to 25. 7 Infopool prostate cancer patient resource This patient resource created by Prostate Cancer Research aims to equip patients and the public with information about prostate cancer. It contains information on testing and diagnosis, treatment choices, living with side effects, and clinical trials. 8 Men's Health - How can we take action? Here are our top 5 things to know and do Top tips for men on keeping healthy and advice on prostate and testicular cancer. 9 Prostate Cancer UK: Best practice pathway Developed to support healthcare professionals at the front line of prostate cancer diagnosis and care, Prostate Cancer UK's Best Practice Pathway uses easy to follow flowcharts to guide healthcare professionals deliver best practice diagnosis, treatment and support. 10 HSSIB report: Management of acute onset testicular pain This investigation reviewed the diagnostic and treatment pathway for testicular torsion. There was a predominant focus on delays and the human factors associated with the pathway. The investigation identified system-wide recommendations designed to prevent delays to the identification and treatment of testicular torsion happening in the future. 11 Prostate cancer: getting information and support This leaflet helps signpost people to support and information about prostate cancer, both nationally and regionally. 12 Why harmful gender stereotypes surrounding men’s approaches towards their feelings need challenging This blog explores men's mental health – how men are reluctant to seek support when they are struggling, why the suicide rate is so high, what initiatives exist to encourage men to seek help and what more could be done. 13 King's Fund blog: Inequalities in men’s health: why are they not being addressed? Almost half of England’s population is male, yet inequalities in men’s health seldom get specific attention. The women’s health strategy for England shone a light on the health care needs of girls and women through their life course, highlighting areas specific to their health – such as maternity and the menopause – and inequalities in health outcomes. But the wide, and widening, health inequalities experienced by men also require focus. Share your insights and experiences Have you, or a loved one, experienced any of the issues raised in this blog? Would you like to share your insights to help improve outcomes in men's health? Perhaps you work in men's health and can share some of the barriers to safe care and what you believe needs to change to improve outcomes. You can share your thoughts in the comments below (sign up first for free) or email our team at [email protected].

Orchid is the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. In this interview, we speak to Ali Orhan, Chief Executive and Director of their Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project.  Ali tells us how they are working alongside a network of volunteer community champions to improve awareness, support better outcomes and reduce health inequalities.  Hi Ali, can you tell us about yourself and what you do? I have a dual role at Orchid as I am both CEO and Project Director of the Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project. I am responsible for the overall strategic direction of the project as well as representing the Orchid project team on various networks. An important and a really enjoyable part of my role is to train the Volunteer Community Champions with the knowledge they need to cascade this vital prostate cancer information within their communities. Who does prostate cancer affect? Each year, over 52,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK, and sadly about 11,500 people will die from the disease. Thankfully many will recover. Age is the most common risk factor for prostate cancer, and the older a man gets, the greater the risk. Prostate cancer is much rarer below the age of 50 but can also affect younger men. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and this statistic doubles (1 in 4) for men from Black African and Black Caribbean heritage. What are the barriers to quick diagnosis and good outcomes? There is low awareness of prostate cancer, even amongst those most at risk, and many people do not know the changes to look out for which could be a sign of prostate cancer. Yet cancers found early are so often the easiest to treat. Also, we know that not everyone has access to mainstream prostate cancer messaging or is able to prioritise their health. This, coupled with the lack of awareness and some cultural taboos around the digital rectal examination (DRE), which may be part of the diagnostic pathway, can lead to late diagnoses with potentially poorer prognoses. What are the aims and scope of the project? The main focus of the Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project is to improve education and awareness within identified communities. Since early 2021, Orchid has been recruiting and training Volunteer Community Champions in ten areas across England*. The aim is to give them the tools to cascade accurate information about risk factors, signs and symptoms, and diagnostic pathway. We want to support them to empower local people with information to help overcome barriers to engaging with their health and prostate cancer, including cultural taboos about rectal examinations. The champions can also signpost people to Orchid’s services (the helpline and website) and to peer support opportunities delivered locally by other charities and organisations. Another important aim is to give our champions new skills and knowledge which will remain in the ten locations after the project ends in May 2024. What tools and resources are the champions given? Champions receive comprehensive training and are then supported by the Orchid team as they begin to cascade the information. They are equipped with a toolkit, fact sheets and sign posting leaflets to hand out. The champions have talked to us about the difficulties in getting people to open up and talk about prostate cancer. In response, Orchid has given them interactive tools to help them start those important conversations with people in their communities. These include an interactive demonstration model which people can use to learn what a prostate feels like, so they can better understand what a health professional is looking for in a digital rectal examination (DRE). They also use a walnut to help people understand what size a prostate is, and a “Know your nuts” game to draw people in and get them talking. How else do you support the champions? Our Project Manager, Julia Depetrillo, keeps our champions up-to-date via a regular newsletter. The online drop-in sessions she runs also provide a good opportunity to discuss any issues which may arise if anyone needs any additional support or information. That said, both established and new champions always have access to the project team should they need it. There is no such thing as a typical champion. They all bring their own experience and knowledge of their local area. Some have been affected by prostate cancer, another cancer or know someone who has bee. Some have an interest in or knowledge of a particular community. Some cascade information in prisons to fellow residents. If you are interested in training as a Champion, you can email Julia at [email protected] Photo: Training three new champions in Nottingham. Has the project been a success so far? The project is a great success! In the last 2.5 years we have trained over 100 volunteer champions who now have the prostate cancer knowledge they need to raise awareness in their communities. A few key stats I wanted to share: 31,197 people have been reached by the project already (target was 24,800) 2,439 project activities delivered already (target was 1240) 20,000 prostate cancer factsheets distributed Over 7,500 leaflets signposting people to further help either via Orchid or from local groups or charities distributed. Have there been any surprises? Despite using similar recruitment methods and adapting to local opportunities, the number of champions vary across the ten project areas, and there are fewer with lived experience than we would have expected. Nonetheless we are so happy with the wonderful team we have recruited, and the incredible volunteering they are doing which makes such a difference. What are your personal reflections and hopes for the future? A great hope is that as many champions as possible will continue to raise awareness of prostate cancer within their communities after the end of the project, and this is one of our current project priorities. The knowledge the champions have acquired through the training, conferences and catch ups will be long lasting, and Orchid will remain there to support them. And even though the project is coming to an end, we are still responding to requests for training as raising awareness within communities is so important. The knowledge and power our champions gain can never been taken away from them. To learn more about prostate cancer, please visit Orchid's website. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our freephone confidential helpline 0808 802 0010 which is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 5pm. * Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Dudley, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Wolverhampton Share your thoughts Have you or someone you know been affected by prostate cancer? Or do you work in a role that relates to prostate cancer? What do you think the barriers are to men seeking help earlier and engaging with health information and services? Please comment below (sign up first for free) or get in touch with the Patient Safety Learning team at [email protected] to tell us more.

This leaflet helps signpost people to support and information about prostate cancer, both nationally and regionally. It has been produced as part of the Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project led by Orchid, the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. The regional signposting section covers: Birmingham Bradford Bristol Dudley Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Wolverhampton

Watch this short film about what to do if you experience pain in your testicle/s, by Cardiff Fertility Studies and the British Fertility Society, made in partnership with Orchid. 

The National Conference on Men and Boys Issues 2023 is brought to you by The Men and Boys Coalition and Men's Day UK, with sponsorship from Besin's Healthcare. Register